MLB Rumors

At the request of head physician William Raasch, the Brewers have opted to postpone Marco Estrada's rehab debut, originally scheduled for Thursday. Estrada will instead throw one more bullpen session in the next few days, before being assigned to a minor-league affiliate, according to MLB.com. 

White Sox starter Chris Sale wasn't at his best Wednesday night in Minnesota. Sale four earned runs to score, tied for the second-highest total of his season. 

Sale gave up the four runs on eight base hits and two walks over just five innings in defeat. He fell to 5-6 on the year with a 2.69 ERA. He did strike out five in the appearance. Brian Dozier did the most damage with a three-run homer off him in the second inning. 

Sale has been off and on over his last four starts but has been consistently a loser in those outings. He's 0-4 over that stretch with nine runs allowed over 26 1/3 innings with 30 Ks. He's still mowing people down and has 91 Ks over 90 1/3 frames. Sale will look to get back on the winning track when he next takes the ball Tuesday versus the Mets. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve had a big offensive night in a loss to the Brewers. Altuve recorded three hits and three stolen bases in the game. 

Altuve singled three times as he went 3 for 4 with the bat. He scored Houston's only run in the 3-1 loss. The No. 2 batter added three stolen bases as he took third once and second twice. He now has 16 steals on the year to go with a .295 batting average. 

The 23-year-old has seven stolen bases in his last seven games. 

Astros starter Erik Bedard was sharp Wednesday in a start against the Brewers. Unfortunately, the Astros couldn't hold his 1-0 lead. 

Milwaukee came back with two runs in the eighth and another in the ninth to win 3-1, as Bedard took the no-decision. He gave up just one earned run on four hits and two walks over 7 1/3 solid innings with eight Ks. Bedard needed just 98 pitches to get into the eighth inning. His ERA is at 4.43. 

The Astros gave Bedard little support Wednesday. In fact, they have scored a grand total of seven runs in his last four outings, though he has managed to go 2-1 over that stretch. Bedard is pitching well and will make his next start Tuesday against the Cardinals. 

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley made his minor-league rehab debut Wednesday for Double-A Reading, his first action since suffering an oblique injury in May.

Utley started the game and played second base, going 0 for 4. The team has yet to say how many games Utley will need on his rehab assignment, but MLB.com reported Wednesday he could be back by the end of the upcoming weekend series against the Mets. 

Rangers starter Justin Grimm earned a win Wednesday night against Oakland. Grimm moved to 6-5 on the year with a solid performance against the A's. 

Limited to 75 pitches and five innings, Grimm held Oakland to just three runs on three hits and three walks. He struck out three and didn't have the most economical of outings. Still, he earned the win and his ERA is now at 5.57. 

Grimm bounced back after giving up seven runs over 7 2/3 innings in his last start against Toronto. It was his first win since May 30 against Arizona. Grimm will look to start a winning streak when he next takes the hill Tuesday in New York against the Yankees. 

Cardinals reliever Fernando Salas tossed a scoreless inning in his rehab debut Wednesday for Triple-A Memphis. He struck out two batters in his inning, while throwing 20 pitches.

Salas has been dealing with shoulder inflammation that has kept him on the disabled list for a month, and it is not yet known how long he is expected to stay on his rehab assignment.  

Brewers starting pitcher Chris Narveson pitched well in Wednesday's rehab start for Triple-A Nashville, as he tossed five solid innings in a win.

Narveson allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts, while throwing 48 of 80 pitches for strikes.

Narveson has made five rehab starts while recovering from a ligament sprain in his left middle finger, and the team is not yet sure what role he will have when he returns to the majors, or when he is expected to return. 

Athletics starter Tommy Milone took the loss Wednesday night in Texas. The Rangers got the better of him as he dropped to 6-7 on the year. 

Milone gave up a two-run homer to Lance Berkman in the second inning and it was all downhill from there. He ended up allowing six earned runs on eight hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings in defeat. He threw 100 pitches and struck out just one batter. His ERA is at 3.98. 

The 26-year-old has dropped two straight outings, but gave up just three runs over 13 2/3 innings in his previous two despite an 0-1 record. He should bounce back when he next takes the hill Tuesday against Cincinnati. 

Cardinals starting pitcher Jake Westbrook tossed one of his strongest starts of the season Wednesday in a 4-1 win over the Cubs, after he struggled in his return from the disabled list.

Westbrook allowed just one unearned run in seven innings of work, on a missed catch error by Yadier Molina in the second inning. He shut the Cubs out from that point on, allowing just two hits and three walks in the outing.

Westbrook struck out two batters while racking up 15 groundball outs. He threw 60 of 96 pitches for strikes in the outing, as his record improved to 3-2. Westbrook now has a 1.76 ERA with six quality starts in eight tries heading into his next start, Tuesday against the Astros.